Shingle Inserts And Method For Eliminating and Preventing Growth of Algae, Moss, or Lichens on a Roof

ABSTRACT

A shingle insert and method for eliminating and preventing growths on a shingled roof in which a porous copper mesh is installed with an upper edge beneath a course of shingles with the remaining portions of the insert exposed. A confined space is defined beneath a lengthwise hump in the exposed copper strip portions which is filled with a growth toxic material, in solid or granular form which releases a substance toxic to the growths when rainwater runoff passes into the confined space and material and thereafter flows out down the roof.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/329,729 filed on Dec. 19, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/424,892 filed on Dec. 20, 2010, incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns treating shingled roofs for deterring the growth of algae, moss, lichens or fungus. Such growths can be unsightly and also damage asphalt shingles by loosening the granules embedded therein which loss shortens the service life of a roof.

Also, water is retained by such growths delaying complete dry out of the roof after a rain and such, the prolonged contact with moisture also contributing to wear out of the roof covering.

It has long been known that copper strips installed on the roof will deter such growths.

Spraying algaecides on the roof shingles can quickly kill those growths which have built up over a period of years.

Copper or zinc strips have long been used to inhibit such growths on roof coverings. These strips often only effective for a few courses of shingles such that multiple rows of strips are required. In addition, these strips act slowly and cannot quickly eliminate an existing buildup of such growths if the strips are installed later after the roof itself has been installed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a more effective shingle insert strip configuration for such applications which also can provide for elimination of a preexisting buildup of growths as well as inhibit the start of such growths on roofs for a greater distance down the roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above recited object as well as other objects which will be understood by one skilled in the art upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a shingle insert, preferably constructed of copper sheet strips combined with an underlayer of a strip of copper mesh. The copper sheet strip portion is formed with a lengthwise extending hump intermediate its width which will temporarily impound a portion of the dew or rainwater moving down the roof to lengthen the time that the water remains in contact with the copper. The copper screen is formed with a tubular pocket along its lower edge which is disposed within the hump. The pocket can have a rod of algaecide implaced therein which will be released by rainwater flowing beneath the copper strip and over the inserted rod. The copper screen strip extends above the upper edge of the copper sheet strip and beneath a course of shingle to provide a nailing tab and is secured as with an adhesive to the copper sheet strip the space beneath the hump is adapted to enclose a mass of a chemical algaecide such as a copper complex that will relatively quickly kill growths described when absorbed by rainwater descending the roof which passes through and over the chemical and releases a substance powerful enough to quickly kill existing roof growths. The copper strips will release copper ions which will continue to inhibit the reestablishment of growths for long periods.

The shingle insert sheet strip portions are configured to have crosswise oriented elongated depressions which also capture moisture with the sides forming narrow slots which allow penetration of rainwater runoff through the strip. The slots are narrow enough so that surface tension creates a tendency to hold dew or rainwater briefly to increase the time of residence of water in contact with the copper.

The lengthwise hump feature also slightly impounds the rainwater runoff to create substantial contact of the water with the algaecide chemical material to create a greater absorption.

The bottom layer of copper mesh underlies the copper sheet strip to close off the space defined by hump, creating a confined space to retain granules or to enclosure a solid rod during handling and installation while allowing through flow of rainwater and easing the installation of the strips.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a section of a shingled roof having a single course of shingle inserts according to the present invention installed thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away pictorial view of one embodiment of shingle insert of the invention installed over a roof section.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary pictorial view partially broken away of another embodiment of a shingle insert according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially broken away pictorial view of a shingle insert installed on a roof section containing a solid mass of algaecide chemical material.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary pictorial broken away view of another embodiment of a shingle insert according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the depression formed into the copper sheeting strip portion.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a section 7-7 taken though the depression shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the Drawings, FIG. 1 shows a series of shingle inserts 10 according to the invention, installed on a roof with an upper projecting edge portion nailed beneath a course of shingles 12 near the top of the roof 14, with a main portion overlying the next lower course of shingles 12A.

One or more additional courses of shingle inserts 10 may be installed in shingle courses at locations down the roof as necessary, but the improved effectiveness of the strips according to the invention minimizes such need.

FIG. 2 shows additional details of the shingle inserts 10, each of which is comprised of a doubled outer layer 16 of copper mesh.

The lower edge thereof has a series of gentle scallops is provided for allowing a substantial area exposed dew or to rainwater runoff to enhance the long term effects thereof in keeping the roof clear of growths while maintaining an acceptable appearance.

A crosswise hump 18 is formed into the top outer layers 16 for the full length of each of the shingle insert strips 10. A bottom undercover layer 20 of copper mesh extends beneath the double layers 16 and protruding above the upper edge 22 of the double layers 16, and covering the bottom of the space A formed by the lengthwise hump 18 to allow retention of chemical material in the space as described below.

The undercover layer 20 is preferably attached to the upper layers 16 as with adhesive caulk, soldering or spot welding.

The protruding upper edge 24 of the bottom layer 20 is inserted beneath the lower edge of the course of shingles 12, which can be raised up to enable nailing the strip 24 through the upper part of the next down course of shingles 12A and into the roof deck 26 as shown.

The confined space A is initially filled with granules of an algaecide material which will dispense an algaecide substance down the roof by rainwater percolating through the shingle insert strip openings and also through the granules themselves.

A preferred algaecide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,834, incorporated herein by reference, which is commercially available under the trademark CUTRINE-PLUS™ available from Applied Biochemists of Germantown Wis. This material is described as a “copper complex” which releases elemental copper.

This material dispenses copper into rainwater runoff which results in a rapid die off of the various growths, i.e. moss, algae, lichens, which can grow on roofs.

Long term growth control is provided by the ions released into the moisture by the copper metal which forms the shingle insert strips 10.

Another embodiment of a shingle insert strip 27 is shown in FIG. 3, in which a copper sheet strip 28 is used which has a series of depressions with slots 29 stamped therein to allow rainwater to penetrate through the sheet and into a lengthwise hump 18A and into space A which is packed with algaecide granules as described above.

A copper mesh bottom strip 24A is attached to close off the space A and hold the granules therein.

The strip 24A has a protruding edge for nailing as in the above described embodiment.

The ends 30 of the strip 24A are wrapped over the ends (only one end shown) to close off the ends of the space A and prevent escape of the algaecide granules.

The sheet 28 is also formed with a series of scallops 29 along its bottom edge to provide a large area exposed to moisture run off while maintaining a good appearance.

As shown in FIG. 4, the algaecide could be formed into a solid rod 32 inserted beneath the hump 16.

The hump 18 tends to briefly impound the dew and rainwater runoff so as to increase the time of contact of water with the copper metal and enhance the inhibiting effect on any growths on the roof in the manner generally known.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, another embodiment of a shingle insert 34 is shown, which includes a top strip 36 of thin copper sheet (approximately 1/32 of an inch thick) several inches wide.

Several lengthwise rows of narrow depressions 38 are formed therein. The ends of the depressions 38 are sloped at the ends 40 so that the metal at the ends remains attached to the sheet.

On each of the sides, the depressions 39 (which are about ½ inches long) are formed with a vertical shape such that the metal tears to form narrow slots 42 on the order of slightly over 1/32 inch high which is the approximate depth of the slots 42. These narrow slots allow water received in the depressions 38 to seep out after some delay to increase the time the water from dew or rain remains in contact with the copper metal of the sheet strip.

Thus, a greater concentration of copper ions are released into the water which moves down onto the shingles below enhancing the growth inhibiting effect.

This growth inhibiting effect has been found to extend for relatively great distances down the roof, often allowing a single course of inserts to protect entire sections of a protected roof.

A copper mesh underlayer strip 46 is secured as by adhesive caulk patches 44 to an upper portion of the copper sheet strip 36 and protruding above the upper edge, providing a nailing strip 46, which is inserted beneath the lower edge of a course of shingles.

A semi tubular hump 48 is formed into the copper sheet strip 36 intermediate its width as measured uproof extending the complete length of the insert thereof. This provides an effect of impounding temporarily runoff water as in the above embodiments.

The copper mesh underlayer 46 has a lower side rolled into a tube 50 which is disposed within the space 52 defined beneath the hump 48.

A rod of solid algaecide 54 can be inserted into the tube 50 as shown in FIG. 5 if there is an existing heavy growth on the roof when the shingle inserts 34 are being installed. 

1. A shingle insert strip for reducing the growths of algae, moss, lichens, or fungus on roofs comprising: an elongated generally planar strip of copper sheet having a lengthwise hump formed therein defining an impoundment and an underspace, said underspace adapted to receive a roof growth control material which releases a substance into rain runoff which is toxic to such growths; said copper strip having openings allowing penetration of rainwater runoff from above into said underspace and to thereafter flow out onto a roof surface below said strip; said shingle insert strip having an upper portion adapted to be inserted beneath a shingle course above the other portions said shingle insert strip to position remaining portions thereof exposed to receive rainwater runoff.
 2. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said upper portion strip is comprised of a strip of copper mesh affixed to said copper strip.
 3. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said copper strip is formed with shallow horizontal indentations to capture water runoff of moisture.
 4. The shingle insert strip according to claim 2 wherein copper mesh strip is attached to an undersurface of said copper sheet strip.
 5. The shingle insert according to claim 3 wherein said cover strip indentations have narrow slits at bottom and top edges.
 6. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said material is in granular form.
 7. The shingle insert according to claim 6 wherein said material is a copper complex.
 8. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said copper strip has a scalloped lower edge exposed when installed on a shingled roof.
 9. The shingle insert according to claim 4 wherein said copper mesh strip extends into said underspace and has a lower side formed into a loop adopted to receive a rod of such control material.
 10. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said material is a double layer of copper mesh.
 11. A method of eliminating growths on shingled roofs comprising: installing a series of shingle inserts on said roof, each having an upper portion disposed beneath the lower edge of shingles in a course of shingles so as to leave exposed a lengthwise porous hump formed in a lower portion of said shingle insert; loading a material into a space defined beneath said hump which releases a substance toxic to said growths when rainwater runoff flow passes into and out of said humps after passing over or through said material; and confining said toxic substance in said space.
 12. The method according to claim 11 including forming of copper mesh with a feature able to confine said toxic substance and affixing said copper mesh to an undersurface of a strip sheet of copper formed with said hump with said feature disposed within said hump. 